State nomination: SA, Victoria and NSW invitations

How often will South Australia hold onshore state nomination rounds in 2025–26?

South Australia will maintain monthly invitation rounds for its onshore pathways in the 2025–26 financial year. Its policy was announced on 24 November, and its first invitations were issued on 1 December. It will also publish data after each invitation round.

In the 25–26 financial year, by December, New South Wales had used 25% of its Subclass 190 allocation, around 525 places, leaving approximately 1,575.

The various state nominations that received their official quotas in November will now progressively enter a steady invitation cycle. Some states are issuing a first round as early as December, while others are only planning to start work in January.

On the third day of December two states have already issued pre-invitations — South Australia on the evening of 1 December and Victoria on the morning of 3 December — and on 2 December New South Wales officially announced its upcoming 190 pre-invitation and 491 arrangements.

Victoria

also issued invitations today, 3 December. This round we saw a small number of offshore invitees. A priority occupation plus work experience is the standard requirement, and most onshore invitees this round were also in priority occupations. Work experience is carrying increasing weight in Victoria’s invitation decisions.

South Australia’s ROI pre-invitation round on 1 December

Let’s talk about South Australia, which has just issued its first round of the 2025-26 financial year. SA was the last of all states to confirm this year’s policy and to open its onshore channel. Fortunately SA got its act together — policy announced on 24 November, first round issued on 1 December.

This year SA’s onshore channel will keep to one invitation round per month. The data collected from our clients and external sources is as follows:

Client and external data on South Australia’s 1 December ROI pre-invitations

South Australia’s first ROI pre-invitation round data

Another new change in SA this year is that it will publish data after each round is issued — at least the invitation picture is now reasonably clear.

NSW’s next round of 190 invitations will be in January

NSW wrote yesterday to confirm the key points from last week’s MIA meeting:

First, the next 190 round will be in January.

As of December NSW has used 25% of its quota — roughly 525 places — leaving about 1,575 190 places for the rest of the year. According to Home Affairs data, 197 190 places had been used by the end of October, which means that in November alone around 328 applications were processed and issued formal nominations.

NSW has issued three rounds of 190 pre-invitations so far — one at the end of October and two in November — so 328 nominations in a single month is reasonable.

Second, NSW’s holiday notice.

NSW will be on Christmas break from 24 December to 9 January and will not process applications or issue invitations during that period. Applicants who have already received a 190 pre-invitation and whose documents or points-boosting items are about to expire need to contact NSW before 12 December and request expedited processing.

Third, NSW has re-confirmed that 491 Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 will open on 19 January.

Make sure your documents are complete and in order. Average processing time for both pathways is expected to exceed 6 weeks. If your visa or points-boosting items are about to expire, or age is about to reduce your score below 50 points, notify the state government and they will aim to process your case within 10 business days.

Others that will definitely issue invitations in December include Western Australia，Canberra will also issue another matrix round before the holidays,

Tasmania is now issuing invitations every week.

If you would like to understand skills assessments and compare the requirements of each state’s nomination program, please contact our consultants below:

Study-abroad and migration customer service contact details

NewStars Group Introduction Video

(Filmed in 2021)

State officials speak on the record: invitation schedules and selection rules across the eight state nominations — all key information in one summary!